Lamp suspension and positioning structure



. 1, 1942. 'r. a. FARRINGTON LAMP SUSPENSION AND POSITIONING STRUCTURE v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1940 A m F 4| I 8. INVENTOR THAYER B. FARRINGTON' 47 BY ATTORNEY T. B. FARRINGTON LAMP SUSPENSION AND POSITIONINGSTRUCTURE File aA l-il 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I FIG-3 4 -INVENTOR THAYER B. FARRINGTON ATTORNEY Patented Dem-1, 1942 LAMP SUSPENSION AND POSITIONING STRUCTURE Thayer B. Farrington, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application April 24, 194i Serial No. 331,303 2 Claims. (01. 177-352) This invention relates to improvements in lamp suspension and positioning structures; and more particularly to a structure especially adapted to support definitely positioned lamps in places difllcult of access, such as airplane obstruction lights on tall objects.

As will be understood by those acquainted with this industry, lights placed on tall chimneys, stacks, towers, radio aerials and the like as a warning to airplanes, must be in certain definite positions so as to be visible froni all angles. Code rules have been adopted to secure the proper placing of such obstruction lights. One difilculty in obtaining the general adoption of such lights is the cost of servicing and maintaining them, as this must be done regularly to insure continuity of service and generally requires the services of a steeple jack.

One object of the present invention, therefore,

is to provide means operable from the ground or the top of a building, in any case some distance below the obstruction light, for lowering the light by means of a chain or cable so that the same may be serviced and again raised in position at the top or some mid portion of the obstruction remote from the operator with the assurance that the light when so positioned on the obstruction will be in a definite location which is predetermined at the time the light is first installed. In other words my invention provides means for lowering a lamp from a tall obstruction and the raising of that lamp again to operative position in exactly the predetermined position originally decided upon.

Other objects of the present invention include the arrangement of the parts thereof so as to be modified to meet various requirements, together with suitable means for holding all of the parts in their proper positions including means for guiding the lamp holding structure safely during raising and lowering operations.

My invention will be more clearly understood from the accompanying drawings and description and the essential features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view of one embodiment of my improved structure showing a pair of lamps fastened in raised or operative position with certain parts shown in section to more clearly denote the structure; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the lamp hanger portion of the device of Fig. 1 to indicate how the parts operate;- Fig. 3 is a smaller view showing one certain respects similar to the lower portion of Fig. 1 but illustrating the manner of suspending a single lamp; Fig. 5 illustrates one manner of attaching a guide to the lamp structure; while Fig. 6 illustrates how a portion of the fixture of Fig, 1 may besupportedby a pedestal or the like attached at the bottom where suspension is unnecessary.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have illustrated a .lamp hanger construction comprising a main or fixed hanger member In and a lower lamp hanger member ll adapted to enter into and be latched to the hanger member ID in a certain definite and fixed position.

Briefly stated, the fixed lamp hanger member 7 I0 is suspended generally by means of an overhead combined bracket and pulley I2 and includes a canopy l3 extending downwardly around the parts to completely enclose and protect them. Mounted on the top wall of the canopy are insulating members ll which support fixed contacts l5. These are supplied with electricity through the wires l6 which usually enter either along the side wall or the top wall of the canopy. Rigidly secured to the fixed hanger member centrally of the canopy I3 is a hollow tubular guide I! having a slot 18 extending through the wallv thereof longitudinally for substantially the entire length of the guide. The lower end of the guide I! is provided with a cam face l9 which slopes rearwardly and downwardly away from the points adjacent the slot I8 to an apex lBa at the bottom rearmost portion thereof.

The lower lamp hanger member ll comprises an outer sleeve 20 provided with an inwardly extending flange 20a, and an inner sleeve or stem contacts 25 adapted when the hanger members an obstruction; Fig. 4 is a fragmental view in are engaged to feed current from the wires to to the wires 26 which in turn lead to the lamps.

Means for raising and lowering the lamp hanger member I l is provided and comprises a washer or the like 21 secured to the end of a chain or cable-v 28 which' passes upwardly through the hollow 1 stem 2| and outwardly through the combined bracket and pulley l2, passing over a pulley in the general location of the circle 29 of Fig. 3 and thence through a conduit 30 to-a suitable location.

Means is provided for guiding the stem 2| into a definite oriented position relative to the guide I! when the two hanger members are engaged. This means comprises a fin 3| on the stem 2| which iaadapted to ride along cam surface I9 and finally enter the slot l8 when the stern 2| is pulled up to enter the guide I]. Thus the stem 2| is always definitely oriented with respect to the fixed hanger member It.

Means may be provided for latching the hanger members together after they have been engaged, although it will be understood that sometimes lamps in raised position are held there merely by the tension on the chain or cable 28. The means here provided comprises a latch dog 32 pivoted on a portion of the fin 3| and adapted to engage in notches 33 of the guide II. The arrangement is such that when the chain 28 raises the stem 2| sufiiciently to pull the latch dog above the notches 33 and then lowered slowly, the latch dog will enter the notches 33. and hold-the parts safely in latched position. The parts are unlatched by lowering the stem 2| quickly so that the latch dog passes the notches 33. All of this structure is fully shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 298,982, filed October 11, 1939, to which reference maybe had if the construction is not clearly understood.

My invention includes means for securing lamps to the lamp hanger member II and more especially to. the stem 2| thereof in definite oriented position relative to the stem 2| so that when the lamp hanger member II is raised to latched position with respect to the member I the lamps connected with the member II will be in definite oriented position relative to the stem tional form being here illustrated to indicate where these parts are positioned. Suitable wires to supply the lamps, such as those indicated at 26, are led downwardly through the adapter 34 and outwardly through the arms 38 as will be obvious to those skilled in this art. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that when the two lamps are held in raised and latched position their rays will converge and cross directly above the upper or fixed hanger member. This obviates any shadow from above. At the same time the globes surrounding the lamps are spaced apart suinciently to permit the introduction of the adapter stem 34 between them for attachment to the orienting arms 38.

Means may be provided for guiding the lamp hanger member H and the attached lamp supporting structure during raising and lowering operationsas shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. In the form here shown, ears 4! on the casting 48 are suitably bored to receive the ends 5|! of a bracket 5| which provides a loop at Sla through which a guide cable 32 may be passed. This prevents abnormal swinging of the parts as they are raised and lowered and insures that the stem and guide are in their approximately correct position for engagement when the'lamp hanger member approaches the lamp hanger member Hi.

It will be obvious that the stem 2| should be substantially alined with the guide I! as the parts approach lagtching position and to this end the lamps are ba anced on the arms 38 so that the stem 2| will be in an upright position and substantially alined with the guide I! when the parts are raised for the latching operation.

Referring to Fig. 3, the structure thus far described is shown mounted upon an obstruction 2| and therefore relative to the guide I! and the fixed hanger member Hi. The means here shown comprises an elongated adapter 34 having at its upper end a threaded connection 35 with the lower nd of the stem 2|. A set screw 33 holds the threaded parts in definite position relative to each other after such a position has been determined. The adapter 34 is provided near its upper end with the inclined openings 31 for the entrance of the wires 26 protected by the canopy portions 31a against the entrance of dirt or moisture. To the lower end of the adapter 34 is secured a lamp supporting structur in definite oriented position relative to the adapter 34.- In the form shown in Fig. 1, a pair of diametrically opposed arms 38 are connected together in a common rigid structure provided with an upstanding central annular flange 39 which enters in the lower flared end 34a of the adapter 34. The lamp supporting casting 48 is provided with a web 4| through a central opening in which passes a bolt 42 which has a threaded engagement at 43 with the web 44 of the adapter 34. By this means the lamp supporting casting is drawn up into tight engagement with! the adapter 34 so that friction at the point 45 is sufficient to hold the casting 40 indefinite oriented position relative to the adapter 34. Lock washers 46 serve to maintain this condition. The casting 40 has a cylindrical opening 40a at the bottom through which the bolt 42 may be introduced. This openingis closed by a cap 41 which is held in position by a set screw 48. Each of the arms 38 supports a lamp structure of any suitable character, a lamp and globe of conven- 53 by means of a bracket 54 secured thereto. The lamp hanger member "I and the bracket portion l2 are suitably secured to the bracket 54 as by means of the U bolts 55. The guide wire 52 may also be secured to this bracket as indicated. The conduit 30 is led from the lamp hanger member to a position near the obstruction where a pulley 58 is provided connected with a conduit 51 leading toward the ground or top of the building as the circumstances may require. Obviously the chain 28 in Fig. 3 instead of being housed in the conduit 51 may be led to the ground in exposed position close to the hanger ID, in which case the bracket 5| may be turned from the position shown in Fig. 3 with the chain 28 passing through the loop 5 la so that the lowering chain 28 serves also to wide the lamp against undesirable swinging as it is lowered to the ground.

In the modification of Fig. 4 all of the parts are the same as above described down to and including the adapter 34. However, the modification shows the use of a single lamp only, such as is often mounted at some point below the top of the obstruction, for instance in an intermediate position on a stack. Here' the lamp supporting arm 58 is secured to the adapter 34 in exactly the manner shown in Flgjland a single lamp 5! is supported-on the arm 58. To balance this lamp and to insure thatthestem. 2| is alined with the guide H a couhterba-llneingmans 60 forms a portion of the structure 58 diametrically opposed to the arm which suppprts the lamp 59. As here shown th counterweight means comprises a chamber provided with a closed opening at 8| through whichjead shot or slugs may be introduced sufiiciently to provide an exact counterbalance for the lamp 53. In this form of the device a bracket-62 extends beyond the counterweight means 60 and'is provided with an opening through which the guide line 52 may pass.

It is obvious from the preceding description that in any form of my device the fixed hanger member i0 may be placed in a predetermined position on the'obstruction with the guide l1 and its slot l8 turned in a predetermined direction.

Also the lamp arms 38 of Fig. 1 or 50 of Fig. 4 may be secured in a predetermined orientation with respect to the adapter-34 which in turn is secured in a predetermined orientation with respect to the stem H by means of the set screw 36. Therefore each time that the lamps are raised to latch'position the lamps will have; a definite predetermined orientation with respect to the structure on which they are'mounted and will.

therefore always carry out the purposefor which they are intended. At the same time anyone can lower the lamps and service them and return them to the proper position at very little expense.

Fig. 6 is a modification showing how the lamp supporting casting 40 of Fig. 1 may. be .mounted upon a pedestal 63 where the obstruction lights are mounted directly upon a support beneath the lamps and where overhead suspension is unnecessary. The pedestal 83 may be-a casting or stamping provided with openings 84 by which the pedestal may be bolted to a' tower, root or other supporting structure. It will be noted that the pedestal has a threaded connection at 65 with the cylindrical opening 40a at the bOttOm' of casting 40. Preferably a cap 68 fits over the flange 39 of the casting 40 in a waterprooi'manner. In the form shown an internal flange 66a on the cap has a threaded connection at 81 with the flange 39 and an outer annular flange 68b of the cap extends outside or. the flange 39 to provide a water-tight arrangement. When the device is formed in this manner the casting 40 with the two lamp supporting arms 38 may be utilized for both overhead suspended lamps and bottom supported lamps.

What I claim is: a

1. Means for supporting warning lights comprising a fixed hanger member, a lowering hanger member separably mounted on said fixed hanger member, coacting latch means on said members forsecuring them in latched position, means for lowering said separable lowering hanger member, coacting orienting parts on said members relatively rotatable about a vertical axis, a pair of lamps carried by said iowering member on opposite sides of said axis, said orienting parts comprising means for rotating said lowering hanger member and the lamps can r ried thereby to definite preselected radial posttions with respect to said axis as said lowering member moves into latched position and for deri- -nitely holding said lamps in said position, and

said lamps being so spaced apart that in latched position the rays from the two lamps. are adapted to converge and cross directly above the fixed hanger r ember.

2. Means for supporting warning lights comprising a fixed hanger member, a lowering hanger member separably mounted on said fixed hanger member, coacting latch means on said members for securing them in latched position, means for lowering said separable lowering hanger member, coasting orienting parts on said members relatively rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of. lamps carried by said lowering member on different sides of said axis; said orienting parts comprising means for rotating said lowering hanger member and the lamps carried thereby to definite preselected radial positions with respect to said axis as said lowering member moves into latched position and for definitely holding said lamps in said position, and

said lamps being so spaced apart that in latched position the rays from the lamps are adapted to converge and cross above. the fixed hanger member.

THAYER B. FARRmG'lON. 

